BPR Mailing List Digest: 12/13/00

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BPR Mailing List Digest
December 13, 2000

Digest Home | 2000 | December, 2000

To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] The Palestinian Authority leaves fingerprints
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 08:27:39 -0500

Wednesday, December 13, 2000

The Palestinian Authority leaves fingerprints

By Amos Harel

Since the end of last week, the IDF has noticed what has cautiously been
termed "a degree of intended escalation" in the territories, on the part of the
Palestinian Authority. The most worrying aspect of this development is the
part being played by the official Palestinian security forces in the attacks.

The relatively few shooting attacks over the weekend were fatal. The
Palestinians marked the 13th anniversary of the outbreak of the first Intifada
with an attack on Shavei Shomron, in which two soldiers and two civilians
were injured, an attack south of Kiryat Arba, in which two settlers were
killed, and an ambush near Jericho, in which a soldier was killed. The overall
number of Jewish casualties has risen, especially in the West Bank. The
Palestinians' aim seems to be improving, with Israelis being injured or killed
almost daily.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat seems disappointed in the
loss of international media interest. The purpose of the struggle - the
establishment of a Palestinian state within the 1967 borders with Jerusalem
as its capital - will not be attained if the daily reports of casualties are
shunted, in the best case, to the end of CNN news reports.

Arafat is also gradually discovering that Israelis do not view the occupied
territories, at least in the meantime, as Lebanon II. While the loss of lives
has stimulated the political debate about the settlements, it has not
prompted Israelis to support a unilateral withdrawal from the West Bank and
Gaza.

That is apparently why he wants to escalate the confrontation, despite the
heavy price paid by the Palestinian people. That is why two major events
should be added - the visit by the Mitchell committee to the region and the
announcement of early elections in Israel - if the Palestinian Authority wants
to influence the process.

However, in doing so the Palestinian Authority has become far less cautious
in concealing its own fingerprints. Two members of the general intelligence
mechanism under Tawfik Tirawi in the West Bank were responsible for the
killing of soldier Tal Gordon. Two other members of the mechanism were
arrested on suspicion of involvement in shooting attacks in the area of
Ramallah and Qalqilyah. The Israeli security establishment is convinced that
the orders for these shootings came from relatively high ranks in the
organizational hierarchy of the Palestinian Authority. If the Palestinian
Authority were a state, said a senior security source, it would be on the
American list of states supporting terror, way above Syria.

With this in mind, two developments in the West Bank should be noted. In
Bethlehem, where there was a considerable Palestinian effort to halt the fire
on Gilo, the fire has been renewed and even caused a serious casualty, the
first in over a month. Hebron, until recently the quietest area in the West
Bank, has heated up since the attack near Kiryat Arba and the takeover by
settlers of a Palestinian house on Givat Haharsina. There are daily
exchanges of fire in the city, even in daylight, and roadside bombs are widely
used, two or three each day.

http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/scripts/article.asp?mador=14&datee=12/13/00&
id=103478

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======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Thanks but no thanks, Likud tells Sharon
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 08:34:57 -0500

Wednesday, December 13, 2000

Thanks but no thanks, Likud tells Sharon

By Yossi Verter

Full of fighting spirit and drunk with the smell of elections in the air, the
members of the Likud central committee yesterday told their leader, Ariel
Sharon, "thanks, but no thanks." As far as they are concerned, Arik can go
home. And the sooner he clears the way for Benjamin Netanyahu, the better.
They were in such a rush that when Sharon finished his speech, they rose to
their feet and cheered, "Bibi! Bibi! Bibi!"

Sharon spent a long time at his farm preparing the speech he would make
that evening. It was best speech he could have made under the unfortunate,
almost tragic, circumstances in which he found himself. It was his farewell
as Likud leader, and to his dream of being elected prime minister.

Every second sentence was an arrow aimed at Netanyahu. "After the
elections, there is a country to be run!" Sharon underscored repeatedly. He
enumerated his achievements as Likud chairman: the rebuilding of the ruins
left by Netanyahu. "I rehabilitated the Likud," he said, with a note of
complaint in his voice. He also listed the achievements of the MKs sitting at
the table near him, leaving out only one name. He repeated that according to
the surveys, "any Likud candidate" would trounce Barak, and he called on
those who had left the Likud to return - including those who contributed to
toppling Netanyahu, such as David Levy, Dan Meridor, Benny Begin, Roni
Milo (who was loudly booed) and Michael Kleiner.

But Sharon left the unkindest cut of all for last. "If I am elected," he said, "I
will form the emergency government Israel so desperately needs, with deputy
prime minister and foreign minister Benjamin Netanyahu and deputy prime
minister and defense minister Ehud Barak at my side."

Silence fell in the hall. Barak defense minister and Bibi foreign minister?!
Then an uproar erupted. The members were insulted and protested on
Netanyahu's behalf. The crowd was angry, but Sharon did not give in. He
seemed to be enjoying every minute, as if he knew he had nothing to lose.
"Bibi too," Sharon almost hissed, to mollify the central committee.

Netanyahu listened, poker-faced. He can be counted on to settle accounts
with Sharon when the time comes. He seemed, however, to be concerned
with more important matters.

The new Netanyahu, the one who has learned that it is not nice to come late,
arrived exactly on time at the Cinerama hall, this time without his wife,
Sarah.

"I missed you," he began his speech, and Sharon and MK Reuven Rivlin
grabbed for their water glasses.

The crowd was his from the word go, but the roof did not fly off. Here and
there, arms could be seen folded skeptically.

Those who wanted to hear the old Netanyahu were not disappointed either.
The old slogans, the same rhetorical questions reappeared.

But as always with Netanyahu, his plans are still unclear. He has left himself
an escape hatch from running against Barak in a special election. He will
decide by next Tuesday, the day of the primaries - as will Sharon.

http://www3.haaretz.co.il/eng/scripts/article.asp?mador=14&datee=12/13/00&
id=103468

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======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Las Vegas planning 'The Big Bang' New Year's blast
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 09:30:31 -0500

*** Las Vegas planning New Year's blast

LAS VEGAS (AP) - It's being dubbed "The Big Bang," and city officials
hope it brings a blast for the bucks. Stung by criticism that its
Year 2000 celebration fell flat, Las Vegas intends to explode
$500,000 worth of fireworks in 10 minutes over its famous Strip and
downtown this New Year's Eve. Fireworks will be fired from 14 sites
above a four-mile area. Hotel room taxes - 9% in Clark County - will
pay the bill. Tourism officials hope for 270,000 visitors this year
- a relatively modest increase over last year's 251,000.

Full article at: http://www.infobeat.com/fullArticle?article=405315983

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======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] Zenit News items (12/12/00)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 09:30:32 -0500

GATES GIVING $8.8 MILLION TO PLANNED PARENTHOOD

LONDON, DEC. 12, 2000 (Zenit.org).-
The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), one of the world's
biggest abortion promoters, said it had received an $8.8 million grant from the
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The money will be spread over five years, Reuters reported. IPPF is active in
more than 180 countries. The founder of Microsoft and his wife have donated
more than $20 billion to the foundation, which is theoretically dedicated to
improving people' lives by sharing advances in health.

ZE00121221

-----------------

SLOVAKIA-VATICAN PACT EXPECTED THIS WEEK

BRATISLAVA, Slovakia, DEC. 12, 2000 - A treaty between Slovakia and the
Holy See is expected to be signed by President Rudolf Schuster this week,
prior to Schuster's visit to the Vatican, according to Transitions Online.

The treaty guarantees the ability of the Catholic Church to choose its clergy
and hierarchy without state involvement, the news service said Monday.
Members of the Church are also granted the right to a Catholic education.
Furthermore, the Church will agree to help the Slovak state in matters
pertaining to social services, humanity and morality in society, the service
said.

Jan Fige, Slovakia's chief negotiator for European Union accession,
described the treaty as "an important step in establishing the modern
international relations of the Slovak Republic. From the political, diplomatic,
cultural and spiritual points, the Holy See is an internationally acknowledged
partner of importance."

ZE00121223

-----------------

ARGENTINE PRIEST GETS OK TO ENTER POLITICS
Quilmes Bishop Suspends Pastoral Duties

BUENOS AIRES, DEC. 12, 2000 - An Argentine bishop has permitted a
priest to run for political office, the Catholic news agency AICA said.

The Diocese of Quilmes published an official decree, announcing that Bishop
Jorge Novak authorized Father Luis Angel Farinello to "participate in the
capacity of candidate to a national legislative post in the forthcoming
elections."

It said that the bishop removed the priest "from all responsibilities of a
pastoral nature from the moment his candidacy is made public and for the
duration of his mandate, should he be elected."

The decree said that in virtue of Canon 904 of the Code of Canon Law, the
bishop' measure allows the priest to "celebrate Mass without the
attendance of faithful."

The measure also exhorted Father Farinello "to adhere at all times to his
condition as a baptized person and priest, unconditionally defending the full
observance of Gospel values and the teachings of the ecclesiastical
magisterium and social doctrine of the Church, particularly those relating to
human rights, which include respect for life from the moment of conception,
education, marriage and the family, the option for the poor, as well as
avoiding any attitude that will injure ecclesial communion."

Bishop Novak's decision is in response to a request made by Father
Farinello, who informed the bishop that he hopes to participate in the
forthcoming national elections as a Social Pole candidate. The priest had
asked for leave from his pastoral duties, including celebrating public Masses.

ZE00121207

---------------

ISRAEL FACES A STRICT SABBATH YEAR OF THE EARTH

JERUSALEM, DEC. 12, 2000 - A sabbath year called for
in the Book of Leviticus will be applied literally for the first time in Israel,
starting next March.

The new restrictions could cause the price of produce to double, the
Argentine Catholic agency AICA reported Monday.

The biblical Shanat Shabbaton, or sabbath year of the earth, is in line with the
passage from Leviticus 25:3-5.

That passage reads: "For six years you may sow your field, and for six years
prune your vineyards, gathering in their produce. But during the seventh year
the land shall have a complete rest, a sabbath for the Lord, when you may
neither sow your field nor prune your vineyard. The aftergrowth of your harvest
you shall not reap, nor shall you pick the grapes of your untrimmed vines in
this year of sabbath rest for the land."

The Jerusalem rabbinate has requested that the passage be rigorously
observed. Jewish agricultural workers will not be able to sell their vegetables
and fruits, nor will produce from Israeli soil be sold.

Previously, rabbis allowed a flexible interpretation of this law. Israeli fields
were rented by Arabs at a token price during the sabbath year, and Arabs
were responsible for selling the produce.

The Jerusalem rabbinate has succeeded in its request that the plants of the
gardens surrounding the Knesset, or parliament, not be watered during the
sabbath year, since this activity is classified as "making the earth work."

ZE00121206

http://www.zenit.org

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======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] BreakingNews-Israel 1,2,3 (12/13/00)
From: "research-bpr" <research-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 09:36:28 -0500

1. Update on victims of Egged 961 bus accident=09
2. Morag shooting victim listed in stable condition=09
3. Heavy rains and thundershowers Wednesday=09
4. Judea residents block Arab vehicular traffic Wednesday morning

1. Update on victims of Egged 961 bus accident
(BNI-DEC.13) On Tuesday night, an Egged 961 bus traveling from Jerusalem
to Tiberias veered out of control near Mitzpei Yericho, flipped over
several times and plummeted into a ravine, landing about 100 meters down
from the road.

Contradicting statements released immediately following the accident,
police reported the bus was not too full, resulting in a relatively light
number of victims from the accident. Over 15 ambulances, a helicopter and
other emergency services responded to the call. 22 persons were injured
and one died in the accident.

11 persons were transported to Hadassah Hospital in Ein Kerem, Jerusalem.
2 are in serious condition and 9 in light-to-moderate condition. According
to the hospital=92s deputy director, Dr. Shmuel Shapira, the two seriously
wounded persons are stable in intensive care units.

6 persons were transported to Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem=92s Mount
Scopus neighborhood. 2 are listed in serious condition, 3 moderate and 2
light.

5 victims of the crash were transported to Jerusalem=92s Shaare Zedek
Medical Center. 1 listed in moderate condition and the others light. Two
were discharged after being treated on Tuesday night.

++++

2. Morag shooting victim listed in stable condition
(BNI-DEC.13) Rachel Yomtov, a resident of Morag, in Gaza, is listed in
moderate condition in Beersheba=92s Soroka Medical Center after she was
admitted with a gunshot wound to her head. She was wounded by PA gunfire
driving near Morag on Tuesday night. Doctors report the mother of nine is
in stable condition.

Another woman wounded in the attack sustained light injuries.

A telephone company employee wounded in the Jordan Valley area by gunfire
on Tuesday evening is reported in good condition and his condition is
listed as light. The Maale Ephraim resident sustained a head injury from
PA gunfire.

Another Israeli is recuperating in Tel HaShomer Hospital after being shot
in the shoulder in the western Benjamin Regional Council sector of
Samaria.

An IDF soldier was wounded near Nili (Modi=92in area) and is listed in
moderate condition in a Tel Aviv area hospital. No additional information
available at this time.

++++

3. Heavy rains and thundershowers Wednesday
(BNI-DEC.13) Heavy rains and thundershowers are forecast for Wednesday
throughout Israel, from the Golan to the Negev. As a result of the
inclement weather conditions, multiple motor vehicle accidents have been
reported on Wednesday morning.

++++

4. Judea residents block Arab vehicular traffic Wednesday morning
(BNI-DEC.13) Jewish residents of the Hebron, Kiryat Arba and Southern
Hebron Hills areas are on Wednesday morning blocking Arab motorists from
traveling in those areas demanding the IDF and government take the
appropriate steps to return security to the roadways of Yesha.

--------------------

1. Schoolbus target by terrorists in Gaza=09
2. Schoolbus attacked with stone in Jordan Valley Wednesday morning
3. Shots fired into Neve Dekalim classroom for second consecutive day 4.
Knesset passes preliminary reading of =93Bibi Bill=94=09

*************************
13-Dec-00 - 2:34 PM
*************************

1. Schoolbus target by terrorists in Gaza
(BNI-DEC.13) Terrorists on Thursday morning fired on a Jewish schoolbus in
Gaza, near the community of Morag. Bullets did strike the bulletproof bus
but there were no injuries. The bus was traveling from Morag to Neve
Dekalim.

The attack occurred at the same location where terrorists fired upon two
Jewish women on Wednesday night, injuring one lightly and a second in the
head moderately.

On November 20th, terrorists in Gaza fired upon a schoolbus near Kfar
Darom, killing two passengers and injuring many of others.

++++
2. Schoolbus attacked with stone in Jordan Valley Wednesday morning
(BNI-DEC.13) A schoolbus traveling in the Jordan Valley on Wednesday
morning was attacked by stone-throwers near the Arab village of Uja. There
were no injuries. The bus was damaged in the attack.

Students were not sent to school over past days in the Jordan Valley area.
Parents kept them home in protest over the lack of bulletproof buses in
the Jordan Valley.

++++
3. Shots fired into Neve Dekalim classroom for second consecutive day
(BNI-DEC.13) For the second consecutive day, shots were fired into a the
school in the Neve Dekalim community of Gaza. There were no injuries in
the shooting attack which originated in the PA autonomous area of Khan
Yunis.

++++

4. Knesset passes preliminary reading of =93Bibi Bill=94
(BNI-DEC.13) The Knesset passed the preliminary reading of the =93Bibi
Bill,=94 designed to clear the way for former Likud Prime Minister Binyamin
Netanyahu to become a contender in the upcoming elections for prime
minister.

The bill which was sponsored by the ultra-Orthodox Shas Party passed by a
67-35 vote & three abstentions. The bill is now sent to the Law Committee
for preparation for first, second and third readings.

----------------

1. High Court distances itself from appeal regarding elections=09
2. IDF soldiers in Hebron targeted by PA gunfire=09
3. Heavy exchanges of gunfire in Gaza on Wednesday morning=09
4. Sharon says he would appoint Barak as defense minister=09
5. Bus bombarded by stones in the Galilee=09

************************
13-Dec-00 - 3:11 PM
************************

1. High Court distances itself from appeal regarding elections
(BNI-DEC.13) The High Court of Justice on Wednesday distanced itself from
a petition presented by Likud MK Limor Livnat, explaining it would not
become involved in the internal dealings of the Knesset.

Likud MK Limor Livnat who is working to clear obstacles in order to permit
former Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to run in the upcoming elections
for prime minister, filed the petition with the High Court.

Livnat is concerned that MK Amnon Rubinstein of the Meretz Party who
chairs the Knesset Law Committee, would stall the bill to prevent its
being brought to the Knesset plenum in time for a vote and called upon the
court to order the committee to immediately deal with the bill. The
candidates for prime minister must be registered 47 days prior to the
elections.

++++

2. IDF soldiers in Hebron targeted by PA gunfire
(BNI-DEC.13) Soldiers stationed in Hebron were fired upon early Wednesday
afternoon by PLO Authority troops. There were no injuries among IDF forces
that returned fire.

++++
3. Heavy exchanges of gunfire in Gaza on Wednesday morning
(BNI-DEC.13) IDF forces were engaged in heavy exchanges of gunfire with PA
forces in Gaza on Wednesday morning. There were no injuries among Israeli
forces that were attacked from the PA autonomous area of Khan Yunis.

PA officials report four persons were killed, including three military
troops, and over 25 were wounded in the battle. PA officials report many
of the wounded are in serious condition.

++++
4. Sharon says he would appoint Barak as defense minister
(BNI-DEC.13) Likud opposition leader MK Ariel Sharon on Wednesday told
the
party=92s central committee that if he were elected as the nation=92s next
prime minister, he would immediately work to form a national unity
government.

Sharon said that he would appoint Binyamin Netanyahu as deputy prime
minister and foreign minister and Ehud Barak as deputy prime minister and
defense minister. His statement was met by a loud resounding voice of
disapproval from party members.

++++
5. Bus bombarded by stones in the Galilee
(BNI-DEC.13) A private bus traveling in the Galilee was bombarded by
stones on Wednesday afternoon. There were no immediate reports of
injuries.

News items published by BNI (BreakingNews-Israel) may be distributed,
copied, posted providing the websites and other forums carrying the
stories display the footer below in plain view on the same page with the
news.

++++

To subscribe to the BreakingNews-Israel list, send a blank email message
to 44828-subscribe@listbot.com

To contact the list owner, send an email to BNI1@netvision.net.il

++++

If you feature BreakingNews-Israel reports in your newsletter or on your
website, please let us know so we may add your name to the list below.

++++

BNI reports are now featured by:
1. The USA Jewish website - http://www.usajewish.com/
2. Israel News - http://www.morashanetwork.com/
3. United Jerusalem.com http://www.unitedjerusalem.com/
4. Efrat - http://www.efrat.org/

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======= To: bprlist@egroups.com
Subject: [bprlist] U.S. Trains China for War ... With U.S.
From: <owner-bpr@philologos.org>
Date: Wed, 13 Dec 2000 16:38:32 -0000

U.S. Trains China for War ... With U.S.
NewsMax.com
Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2000

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2000/12/12/132050.shtml

Chinese troops are being trained for war with the United States,
using methods freely handed over to them by the U.S. Army.

According to an official Chinese military publication, the U.S. Army
invited representatives of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) to
visit an Army base and observe the mock war exercises in which our
troops, tabbed the "Blue Army," fight "enemy" troops using the most
up-to-date tactics and strategy.

China's military digest, the Beijing Junshi Wenzhai, said the Chinese
went home loaded with valuable information about how the U.S. would
engage the PLA in the event of a war.

The digest reported that Chinese military officials visited the U.S.
Owensburg National Training Center in August 1985 and observed "the
sharp exchanges between the troops and a simulated opposition
force. ...

"After the Chinese group of representatives returned home to China,
they made a special report to the Central Military Commission," the
digest added. "In March of the next year, based on authorization from
the CMC, the Nanjing Military Region [in southern China, responsible
for the Taiwan Strait] formally organized a combined tactics training
center. At this point, China then had its first 'Blue Army' base."

At a secret base in China's eastern Anhui province, "Training is held
strictly in accordance with the commands and orders used in foreign
armies and their training formats, with even the mess hall using
knives and forks [similar to those in the U.S.]. ... The current base
commander, General Xiao Deqiao, intimately knows that modern warfare
is warfare of information and mechanization. The base has been able
to bear the tasks of scientific research and experimentation,
specialized project consolidated training and combined tactics theory
research.

"At the 'Blue Army' base all the troops [live by the code] "Here we
face the battlefield of the future." They use specialized methods to
[sharpen] each group of incoming Red Army troops into [well-honed]
blades, whose brilliance will shine in all directions."

The digest reports, "In today's Chinese Army, there is a 'Blue Army'
base specializing in simulating the war tactics of foreign militaries
in order to compel our army in counter operations to 'Know the Enemy'
and therefore 'Defeat the Enemy.'"

The publication leaves no doubt that the "enemy" is the United
States, which generously taught China how to train its troops to
fight us in a future war.

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